Bicycle-frame



(N 0 Mode 1.)

S. M. WILLIAMS. 151M013 FRAME.

No.567,430. Patelited SpptB, 1896.

UNITED STATES I PATENT OFFICE.

BICYCLE-{RAM s.

SPEOIFIGATION forming part ot' Letters Patent No. 587,430,

dated september e, 1896.

Application liled November 8, 1896. Saris-1N0. 568,267. (No modahl' To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SYLVESTER M. WIL- LIAMS, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of San Francisco, State of California, have invented an Improvement in Bicycle-Frames; following to he :3. full, clear, scription of the $3.619.

My invention relates to the general class of bicycles, and more particularly to the frames thereof.

. It consists in the novel construction of the frame,which1 shall hereinafter fully describe, and the object of which is to avoid, by providing aspring or elastic frame, the jars and shocks attendant upon the use of a rigid frame.

Referring to the accompanying drawin s, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my bicyc eframe. Fig. 2 is a top view showing parts broken away to reveal the construction. Fig. 3 is a side view of the lower portion of one of the spring-bars. Fig. 4 is a, cross-section on and exact deline y y of Fig. 2.

' of any suitable The frame is composed of two bars A. These are springy or elastic and may he made materiel, wood or metal or other material. They may have any desirable shape in cross-section and may be tuba- I have here shown themes flat They are lar or solid. metallic bars.

upon themselves in the shape, approximately,

I plate H.

of an elongated letter C, their extremities being secured to the stem B of the fork G or the front wheel D. Their rear lower portion has a. hearing on the axle E of the rear wheel F, and they have, both above and below, a connection with the saddle-post bar G. These connections with bar G are such as to permit free play to the bars A in exercising their springy or elastic functions, so that the rider is relieved of all the shocks and jars which he experiences with the use of arigid frame, with or without a saddle spring.

The several connections may suitable character adapted for the main purpose of the invention, but the best forms of these are as follows: The two heed connections are similar, but reversed with respect to each other. Each consists of a main plate H, secured to the fork-stem B, and a clamp- Between these the bars A fit end and I hereby declare the bent or returned lower rear portion of be of any are secured by a, belt I, passing through the plates and through a socket formed by semi circular notches a in the meeting edges of the bars. 'The belt takes a nut 'i, by which it is tightened. These plates H and H conform properly to the cross-sections of the bars, whatever these may he.- When the bars are round, the plates w'll have semicircular sockets to receive and clamp them. When flat,

as here shown, the main plate is channelled out and the clamp-plate is flat. In any case the bars are firmly bound between the plates. The upper saddle-post-bar connection consists of a split clamp J, fitted to the bar G. Upon the frame-bars A are lugs a, through which and through the intervening tailpiece of the split ole-mp J passes afnolt K, receiving a. 'nut is. The holes in the legs a are larger, than the bolt, and in them are seated sleeves L, which are longer than the bars A are wide, so that the bolt-heed and not bear on these sleeves'and force them against the split clamp J, thereby causing the latter to bind securely on the bar G while permitting the bars A to have the necessary pivotalac' tion to carry out their spring or elastic function. or formed with e cross'journal g, upon which the bars A are pivoted, as shown at a. The customary ballrbeerin connection for the crank-shaft is made wit the cross-journel g, which thus becomes the crank-hanger. The the frame-bars A have slotted lugs a", in which the axle of the rear wheel its end is adjusted by the screws or in much the same manner as the usual connection is made with the rear forks.

M is a mud-guard secured between the bars A over the rear wheel, and m are the cleats by which it is held in place.

N is e brace to hold together and stiffen the .rear portions of the frame-bars A.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is- 1. A bicycle-frame composed of spring or elastic bars bent or returned upon themselves, having connections at their extremities with the stem of the front-wheel fork, connections at their rear lower portions with the axle of the rear wheel, a saddle-post bar extending from the upper member of the bent frame to the lower weather thoreot. and imflfii'litfliti i journals on the no r and 3mm lit-mmfliil said her in twnoectcd o! the frame to which permittodJo (roelyt wlhfgcby' the frame is at r. i J 2. A bicycle-frame composed ot spring; or elastic bars bentor returned upon themcelvon, i having connections in their extremities with the stem or the fronowheel fork, connections at their rear lower portions, a saddleqtoet extending from one member of the frame to the other, a split clamp on the saddle-post bar t pivotally connected with the upper member of the frame and a cross-journal at the lower end of said post pivotaily connecting: it with the lower member of the frame. 3. A hicyclc fmme (Ollllltlfltbtl of spring or elastic bnrs,bont or returned upon themselves, having connections at their extremities with 5 the stem of the front-wheel fork, connections at: their rear lower portion with the axle of the rear wheel, a pivotal connection with the 1 upper portion of the saddle-post liar eonsist- 5 ing of the split clamp, the binding-sleeves? and the bolt, and a pivotal connection with the foot of the saddle-post bar. f 4. A bicycle-frame composed of two parnllel springs or elastic bars, bent or returned upon themselves, having their front ends brought together and provided with sockets 1 in their adjoining faces, a front-wheel fork f with its stem, main plates secured to the stem 1 and receiving said ends, clnmp-plates above r said ends, boits passing through the clampplntesnnd main plates, and through the sock- E ets in said ends, for securing the ends, nconncction for the rear of said bars with the roarsaid unddleqiost wheel. axle,

whoele'mm toddler.- chimp. pivotal otm'twctitm eon the mo and the upper member-o1 said t we and a piw otal llflflllfifii'lmi between the lower portion of bar and the lower memlmr of 0 Home.

5. A bicycle-frame composed of two pariah lel, tint spring or elastic bars, bent or returned upon themselves and brought together at their forward ends, a front whoel fork with its stein, main plates secured to said stem, and chtmpqtlates secured to the main plates, said plates receiving the extremities of the spring or elastic bars between them, a connection for the rear of said bars with the rearn saddle-post bnrand pivotal connectionsabovc and bclowbetwoen said spring or elastic bars and the saddle-post bar, the upper connection consisting of the split clam p, the bindingmleevcs projecting beyond the plane of the sides of the frame and the bolt.

6. A bicyele-fmme composed of spring or elastic bars,bontor returned upon themselves, snitableeonnectionsfortheirextremitieswith the stem of the front-wheel fork, a suitable connection for their rear lower port-ions with the ma r-wheel axle, pi votaleonnectionsabovc and below with the saddle-post bar, a mudgun-rd between said spring orclastic bars over the rear wheel and cleats on said bars for holding the guard in place.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

SYLVES'IER M. WILLIAMS. Witnesses:

S. It. Nocnen, WM. 1'. BOOTH. 

